When smiling, a certain amount of gingival exposure gives the face a young appearance and is aesthetically pleasing. It is regarded as usual to have a gingival show of 1 to 2 mm when smiling. An excessive gingival display, commonly referred to as a "gummy smile," occurs when the maxillary gingiva is excessively exposed when smiling. Even when the lips are at rest, there may be extreme instances where the gingival tissue is overexposed.

The etiology of a gummy smile must be determined in order to define the treatment method and expected results. Lip length, lip hypermobility, incisal wear/crown length, altered passive eruption, gingival hyperplasia and vertical maxillary excess are some of the factors that cause the gummy smile.

The aetiology of the gummy smile influences the therapy options; precisely identifying the pathology's source is crucial. Injectable botulinum toxin and its more recent substitute, hyaluronic acid injection, are examples of less intrusive treatment alternatives. Gingivectomy, modified lip repositioning, and orthognathic surgery are among the surgical options; however, orthognathic surgery is only used for severe vertical maxillary excess due to its high morbidity rates and hospitalisation requirements. In certain circumstances, gummy smiles can be resolved with orthodontic treatment alone. Finally, a variety of techniques may be employed to alleviate gummy smiles caused by many reasons.